Improved method of receiving and discharging freight



UNITEDI STATEs EATENT @Terrea- NETON A. PATTERSON, OF KINGSTON, ASSIGNOR TO I-IIMSELF AND It. K. BYED, OF SAME PLACE, AND M. Ii. PATTERSON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENN.

IMPROVED METHOD 0F RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING FREIGHT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,825, dated September 4, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON A. PATTERSON, of Kingston, in the county of Roane and State ot' Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Receiving, Discharging, and Transferring Freight, 85e.; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactV description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of my improved apparatus, partly in section, through the line :c fr, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section takenthrough the line 3/ y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 representsa modiiication of the chain or cable that connects the cars.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved apparatus for receiving and discharging freight from railroad-cars and vessels, and for transferring it from one place to another, whether it be about the depot, about the wharf, or in any other place 5 and it consists, rst, in a frame bridgeway made in sections and provided with an upper "and lower track, as hereinafter more fully described; second, in the combination of revolving cylinders, or equivalent, with the end sections ot' the bridgeway; third, in the combination of cars constructedas described with the bridge- Way and with the revolving cylinders, the 4Whole being constructed and arranged as hereinafter more fully described.

The number of sections ot' which the bridgeway is composed will depend upon the circumstances ot each case. They should, however, be of such a size, length, and weight as to be readily carried from one place to another. These sections are attached or connected /to each other as follows: Upon the sides of each section, near its end, is secured a projecting flange or slide, A, and upon the end of the adjacent section are attached projecting arms or catches B, having a circular notch formed in their upper edges, as shown.

C are levers, pivoted to the sides of the sections in such a Way that when the sections are placed in proper position thelialf-round heads c ot' the levers can be turned into the half'- round notches in the arms B, clamping the said catches iirmly and securely between the said levers and the iianges A, as shown in Fig. l; 0r thesections may be connected with each other in any convenient manner, provided the connection be strong'. secure, and quickly adjusted. Upon the inner surfaces of the sides ot' these sect-ions are formed anges or tracks D and E. upon which the friction-wheels oft-he cars run. The upper track, D, is placed near the upper edges of the sides of the sections, and is so arranged that when any number of sections are connected the track may be continuous from one end of the bridgeway to the other. At the outer ends of the two end sections the ends of the track D connect with the surface of the revolving cylinders F, as shown in the drawings.

The lower liange or track, E, is placed at the lower edges ofthe sides of the sections, and at the ends of the bridgeway is curved, so as to receive the friction-wheels of the cars as they come over the cylinders F, so as to furnish acontinnous track for the cars in going and returning.

The cars Gr run upon the tracks D and E, and their frames are so made, as shown in Fig. 1, that they can run around the cylinders F in passing from one track to the other. They are connected to each other by an endless chain, H, and may be drawn by the friction of this endless chain upon the grooves in the cylinders F, around which it passes 5 or the cars may be hinged to each other, if desired; but I prefer the manner of connecting them tirst described.

When thefreight is to be moved upon a down grade its own weight will furnish a sufficient motive power; but when the freight is to be moved upon alevel, ornp an inclined plane, power may be attached tothe apparatus by means of a crank, I, or pulley attached to the aXle of one of the cylinders and driven by any desired power. In this case it may be desirable to replace the simple chain by another having cogged or toothed links workin g into cogs formed upon the cylinders F. A convenient form for such a chain isrepresented in Fig. 4.

If desired, the cylinders Fmay be replaced by pulleys; but in this case the ends of the tracks D inust be curved, so as to support and guide the friction-wheels of the cars Gr until they come in contact with the tracks4 E.

To one or the other of the cylinders 'F should be attached a friction lock or brake for regulating the velocity of the cars, or for stopping them when necessary.

When used wholly upon the Aland the di'erent sections may be supported b v legs J, pivoted to the sides of the different sections in such a way that they may be turned up out of the Way in movingthe sections from one place to another, and also in such a way that their length may be quickly varied, which, in the form of leg represented in the drawings, may be done by lengthening or shortening the connecting-cord j.

When the apparatus is used in situations where part of the bridgeway must pass over water, as in receiving and discharging freight from vessels, the sections may be supported by ropes attached to the higher parts ofthe vessels, or to higher partsof the shore, or to stationary or oatin g derricks, as may be most convenient. In the case of vessels the entire apparatus may be carried on board the vessel and connected with the shore at each landing; or part of it may be carried on board the vessels, the other parts to be connected with it being constructed and kept at each landing; or an entire apparatus may be kept at each landing and connected with the vessel on her arrival at the wharf, all these things depending upon the circumstances of each case.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A frame bridgeway made in sections and provided with upper and lower tracks, D E, substantiallyr as described, and for the purpose set forth.r

2. Thecom bination ofthe cars G, constructed as described, with the sectional bridgeway and with the revolving cylinders F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

W. H. DIETZ, W. J. HARTLEY. 

